Climate smart Dry Chain Technology for safe storage of quinoa seeds

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a climate resilient crop having superior nutritional profile compared to other cereal grains and may help to ensure future food security. Commercial cultivation of quinoa is dependent upon availability of quality seed. Adoption of Dry Chain Technology: drying before storage and maintaining seed dryness through hermetic packaging, may prevent quinoa seed deterioration. Quinoa seeds were dried to 8, 10, 12 and 14% initial seed moisture content (SMC) and stored in conventional (Paper, polypropylene, cloth and jute) and hermetic Super Bags for 6, 12 and 18 months. Seed stored in Super Bag at 8% initial SMC maintained low seed moisture and higher germination. Total soluble sugars and alpha-amylase activity were higher while EC, reducing sugars and MDA contents were low for the seeds stored in hermetic bag at 8% initial SMC. Seed stored in traditional packaging materials irrespective of initial seed moisture contents, gained moisture due to ambient high relative humidity which resulted in seed deterioration as indicated by increased reducing sugars, MDA contents and seed leachates conductivity and reduced vigor, viability, soluble sugars. The Dry Chain Technology preserves seed quality by maintaining low seed moisture and reducing deteriorative physiological and biochemical changes in the quinoa seed.